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'The Balding' meets Heat!
28/08/2012“The public had a new hero alongside the Ennises and Farahs of the world - and she went by the name of Balding…” Heat magazine hails Clare for her Olympic coverage, ‘iconic hair’, personal pride in the Mobot and more!
After a few relaxing days in Cornwall “dreaming of the Olympics”, Clare managed to catch up with Heat magazine for a sensational Games-inspired photoshoot and a chinwag about all things Paralympics, barnets and big TV moments.
Hailing Clare as the “newly anointed grande dame of British TV”, the mag was of course keen to hear her personal highlights from an incredible summer of sporting brilliance.
“I was really pleased when Nick Skelton and the show jumping team won their gold medal, as it’s been a long time,” Clare told Team Heat. “And the same with the dressage.
“I was really thrilled with the swimming, because I was presenting it every night – if you can get across the passion involved in sport and the excitement of winning a gold medal, you’re winning. We got that the night that Chad le Clos won. You can’t write that kind of stuff.”
Unbeknownst to Clare, there was also another unprecedented star of the Olympics, and it seemed that Heat were keen to ‘root’ out the secret behind Clare’s “iconic” hair...
“Iconic hair? That’s hysterical!” Clare laughed when quizzed on her do. “It’s very thick and needs a cut at the minute, big time…. I always think it’s very lucky, given the surname that I have, that I actually have as much hair as I do.”
But Clare’s coverage and coiffure haven’t been the only sources of inspiration during London 2012 – she was also instrumental in inventing the Mobot!
Clare had joined Mo Farah on Sky1’s A League Of Their Own when James Corden called on Mo’s fellow panellists to create a celebration move for the track star ahead of the Games.
“I said, ‘Do the M from YMCA’,” Clare explains. “Well, James absolutely loved it, and then Mo tried it out and he liked it. It would have been nothing without the boys saying, ‘Yeah, that’s a good idea’.
“The moment I’m proudest of was Usain Bolt doing the Mobot, to Mo! I’m watching thinking, ‘I invented it!’ Well I didn’t invent it, the Village People did. But I am really proud of it.”
Heat magazine is on sale today!
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Karen Rathbone September 5th
Clare, you made the Olympics so special for myself and my young daughters-they thought your interview with Bert Le Clos was the best thing ever! Thank you for being there throughout our amazing summer of sport!September 3rd
go clare gomel August 31st
Your interview with Bert was a highlight of my olympics! You are a brilliant presenter and so knowledgeable - glad you are with Ade doing the channel 4 coverage makes it even more worth watching!! Brilliant!Jan August 30th
Clare, you are a real gem, you are a pleasure to watch on TV, and a great ambassador for the NBC and channel 4 . God bless you!Gina Holditch August 28th
1st time I've ever bought Heat magazine just to read the interview! Well done Clare. Looking forward to seeing you in Ch4 Racing soonJohn Hicks August 28th
La Stupenda. What a star.She should be paid double Gary Linekar's inflated salary!!Maggie Stannard August 28th
It is a real pleasure to listen to you, your enthusiasm comes across with anything you do. Your Olympic coverage was the best, Good luck in the future.Meryl Smart August 28th
Always looked forward to your commentary on any of the Olympic sports. You had obviously really done your homework and spoke with effortless authority and a very evident sense of humour. You did a brilliant job and deserve all the praise you get. I hope you will be commentating on the Paralympics too? Won't be quite the same without you!Kylie August 28th
Clare, you were absolutely fantastic presenting the Olympics and I really wish you had been at the 3 day eventing! (we had some wally who didn't know one end of the horse from the other) Not only is your presenting intelligent but you are also very witty and engaging!!!Robert Dammers August 28th
Clare, you've raised my opinion of "Heat" magazine. I didn't think that would be possible (Heat sits around absolute zero for me normally). Kudos!Johanna whiting August 28th
Sooooooooo my favourite picture!!Cheryl August 28th
Love Clare she is a great sport.